Toy



Jan. 17, 1961 A. c. GJERTSEN TOY 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 30, 1957 Jan. 17, 1961 A. C. GJERTSEN TOY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 30, 1957 A. C. GJERTSEN TOY Jan. 17, 1961 2,968,482

Filed July 30, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Quiz? 4/1 70 6? gmwnrwv Jan. 17, 1961 A. c. GJERTSEN TOY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed July 30, 1957 United States Patent TOY Anton C. Gjertsen, 650 E. William St., San Jose, Calif. Filed July 30, 1957, Ser. No. 675,145 4 Claims. (Cl. 272-31) This invention relates to toys, and more particularly to airplane toys, arranged so that a child playing with the toy has it under his control at all times.

The invention has for an object the construction of a toy airplane device which is characterized by a housing suitably supported and a plurality of arms associated with the housing in a particular manner, and supporting airplanes so that the airplanes may circle the housing as it rotates upon its support; whereby children when viewing the toy will imagine a number of planes are flying around in formation.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a novel toy airplane device, a stationary mounting means for movably supporting the housing and planes so as to permit the housing to be spring motor driven, and also incorporating means to bring the device to a 'stop if so desired.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a toy with a spring driven housing having a plurality of airplanes attached thereto which is exceedingly simple in construction, and which requires a less number of parts than toy airplanes of a similar type.

A further object of the invention is to arrange a hollow housing, rotatively supported and spring driven, to arrange an internal stationary shaft, to arrange a constant speed regulating mechanism in said housing with a braking mens to be operated automatically against means on the stationary shaft whenever an undesirable high speed develops.

'A still further object of the invent-ion is to provide a rotatable housing upon a stationary support with means attached to its internal wall thereof to contact flexible sound springs supported by a horizontal support secured to the stationary shaft, the springs producing a sound simulating a jet plane in flight.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel construction of a device as mentioned which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at areasonable cost.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a spiral ribbon spring wound about a stationary central shaft, the outer end thereof connected with means secured to the central shaft, the inner end thereof connected to means connected with the movable housIng associated with said shaft, whereby the airplanes can be flown for a considerable period with only one winding of the spring.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the teachings of the principles and features of the invention with the disclosure of the preferred embodiments thereof in the specification, claims and drawings, in which:

'Figure l is a top plan view looking down on a toy airplane apparatus embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the vertical struc ure or body, with one of the carrying arms for one of the airplanes broken oif;

:Figure 3 is a vertical section of the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2, through substantially the center of the supporting shaft, the base shown in full;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the lines IV-IV of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the lines V-V of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on the lines VI-VI of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken on the lines VII-VII of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on the lines VIII-VIII of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 9 is a horizontal section taken on the lines IX-IX of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 10 is a vertical section taken on .the lines X-X of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

As shown on the drawings:

In the drawings, the numeral indicates a stationary shaft rigidly supported in a rectangular shaped base 16. The shaft 15 consists of a bottom section 17 and upper section 18 with a flared mid-section 19; the top of the shaft is squared off to provide a horizontal surface which forms a bearing support for a hollow housing which is rotatively supported thereon. The housing 25 consIsts of a central section 26, a top section 27 and a lower section 28; said central section being cylindrical wih a cylindrical wall 29, said top section comprising'an up- Wardly extending conical wall 30 and said lower section comprising a downwardly and inwardly extending conical wall 31. The upper end of the upper section 18 f shaft 15 is reduced in diameter to form a vertical cylindrical post 33 with a fiat horizontal end surface 34. R0- tatively mounted upon said post 33 is a vertical keyrod 35, said key-rod 35 formed of an upper section 36 and a lower section 37 with a cup shaped member 20 arranged therebetween with depending side portions 38. A key 39 with thumb and finger portions is rigidly se cured to the upper end of the upper section 36 of key-rod 35. The lower end of said lower section 37 is provided with a vertical bore 40 with a semi-cylindrical top surface portion 41 to receive post 33. A ball bearing 42 is mounted between said horizontal surface 34 of the post 33 and the top annular surface 41 of said lower section 37 to form a bearing therebetween whereby the key-rod 35 may be independently rotated.

The. housing 25 is provided with four rods 21 extending radially from its side wall 29, said rods being equally spaced and diametrically opposite from each other, said rods extending horizontally with their end portions 22 bent upwardly, the extreme upper end portion 23 thereof being threaded to receive and support a toyairplane 24 thereon.

The rectangular base 16 is hollow and made of cast iron to form a heavy supporting member, said base 16 embodying a central portion with a flat horizontal part 45 and a plurality of downwardly extending flange portions 46, the flat part 45 being centrally drilled and tapped to receive the lower threaded end of portion 17 of said shaft 15. Attached to one of said flange portions 46 is rigidly secured a triangular shaped metal stand 47 with a long fiat base 48, slanting sides 49 and 50, a vertical end wall 51 screwed or bolted to one of said flanges 46 and a vertical end wall 52 closing the outer end of said metal stand. Secured along the apex of said sidewardly extending stand 47 is a vertical metallic flange 55, said flange having a concave upper portion 56 which has a hollow metal tube 60 welded there on, said flange also having a" concave end portion,

57 extending over and above said base 16, the vertical; edge portion 58 thereof Welded to a vertical hollow ineta'l tube 59. The hollow tube 59 has an internal diameter equal to the external diameter of said shaft 17 to form a supporting sleeve therefor and to prevent wobbling of said shaft during rotation of the housing upon the upper end portion 18 of said shaft 15. d I

The 'lowermostportion 65 f 'section 28'of said'housing has a central aperture 61iwith aring portion 62 adjacent thereto. Said ring'portion 62 is provided with annular grooves on the upper and lowersurfaces thereof to form bearing raceway's to retain bearings 66 therein. The

upper surface o-f'saidflan'ged portion 19 is provided with an annular groove corresponding to the groove in the lower side of said ring'portion 62 as shown by Figure 7. Above said ring portion 62 is assembled horizontally a locking ring 68 having a central aperture to fit'over shaft 18; said ring'68'havin'g ana'nnular groove corresponding to the groove in the upper side of said ring portion 62 to retain bearings 69 therein; Said locking ring 68 is pinned or screwedto said shaft .18 in order to lock the housing rotatively upon shaft 15; thebearin'g's 66 and 69 forming a frictionless bearing between the ring portion 62, the upper surface of flared shaft portion 19, and the lower surface of the locking ring 68'.

The lower section 28 of said housing 25 is provided with an inwardly "extending cavity 70, to provide a notch for'holding the housing from rotation by suitable means. The metal tube 60 attached to said metallic flange 55 has its lower end 72 attached to the apex of said metal stand '47 adjacent the end wall 52 thereof. The end 72 of the tube 60 is enlarged to form a cylindrical spring retaining cavity 73 with tapering end wall 74 for joining the main tube 60 and with the end '75 formed to provide a shoulder, o'r'an apertured'end' closing means with an inwardly depending wall, the lowermost portion ofsaid'end 75 also provided with a' horizontal projection 76, clearly shown by Figures 2 and 3. A metallic flexible cord 80, or so called Bowden Wire, is assemblcd'with said tube 60, the cord 80 being of sufficient length and rigidity to' extend'beyond the upper end of the tube into notch 70 of the housing when under spring tension.v A tension spring 81 is assembled about the lowermost end of the cord, one end 82 thereof fastened to the end wall of enlarged portion 72 at'the junction with tube 60, and the opposite end 83 of the spring 81 fastened to the cord 80 a short distance in from the lower end thereof. The extreme lowermost end of said cord 80 is provided with a hand control knob 85. Intermediate said knob .85 .and said spring 81 is attached to said cord 80 a hook means 86. When'the cord 80 is pulled downwardly the hook means 86 will be withdrawn outside said metallic tube and may be easily engaged with the projection 76, this action extends said spring 81 and withdraws the upper end of the cord from the cavity 70 within said housing 25. When-the hook means '86 is released, it is redrawn into the metallic tube by. said spring 81, the upper end of the cord extending into the cavity 70 of the housing forminga locking means for the housing, preventing rotation thereof.

In order to control the speed of the rotation of the housing and airplanes an automaticjspeed regulator is provided within said housing.25. A bracket 90 is secured to the inside annular wall of the housing, said bracket extending to within a short distance of the shaft portion 18, as shown by Figure 8. An arm 91 with a bifurcated end portion .92 is p'ivotally secured to the end of said bracket 90, the extreme upper end of said arm 91 having a hard rubberbumper 93 secured thereon. A hard rubher-cylindrical ring 94 is mounted upon the shaft portion 18 opposite and in line with the upper surface of said bracket 90. Upon the lower end of said arm 91 is mounted a lead ball 96, said ball tending to keep said arm substantially vertically within the housing. The lower end of a tension spring 97 is secured to said ball 96; the upper end of'the springis attached to said bracket 90 adjacent the inner wall of .said housing; said spring keeping-the 12211196 from contacting the shaft portion 18 when said housing is rotated. As the speed of the hous 4 ing increases, said ball 96 will tend to travel outwardly effecting arm 91 to approach a horizontal position. When said arm is raised, said rubber bumper 93 will contact ring 94 and thereby reduce the speed of rotation of said housing and as this retardation comes into existence said ball 96 will tend to drop and lower said arm 91 again freeing said bumper from contacting said ring. This mechanism provides an automatic speed regulator. A flanged disk 100 is horizontally and rigidly secured to the post section 18 below the upper end thereof, and above said speed regulator, clearly shown by Figures 3 and 6. Sound springs 101 are mounted in slots 102 spaced about the peripheral edge portion of said disk 100. A sound control member 103 is pivotally mounted in the side wall of said housing adjacent said disk 100. Said control member 103 comprises a thumb and finger portion 104 extending outside said housing and a contact arm 105 extending radially inwardly from the housing wall. When sound is desired,'the arm 105 is arranged to extend inwardly by movement of'fing'er portion 104; said arm 105 is long enough to contact all the sound springs 101 as the housing rotates on shaft 15. When the finger portion 104 is moved adjacent the housing, said arm 105 moves away from the sound springs preventing contact therewith. The sound produced simulates that of a jet airplane in travel. v

Threaded and assembled upon the upper end of shaft portion 18 is a flanged cup shaped member with a central aperture therein to fit over the cylindrical post 33. Said cup shaped member comprises an upwardly extend' ing' rim portion 111 about its peripheral edge portion. A

spiral ribbon spring 112 is wound about post33 andthe" lower portion 37 of the key-rod 35 mounted upon a bearing 42 supported by said post 33, the inner end.

beingconnected to the key-rod portion 37, and the outer end being connected to the stationary rim portion 111 of cup member 110. When the spring unwinds, it turns the key-rod 35 through ratchet mechanism indicated at 115 by Figures 3 and 5. The key-rod turns the side portion 38 of cup shaped member 20 arranged between the upper and lower sections 36 and 37 of the key-rod 35. Attached to said side portion 38 are a plurality of radially extending stop-springs 116, shown by Figure 5. A disk 1 17 having a'central opening is spaced between the upper section 27 and the central section 26 of housing 25. A

vertical ring member 118 is secured to said disk about the central opening thereof and extends upwardly therefrom, said ring 118 radially spaced from said stop-springs 116. The ring 1.18 is provided with a plurality of slots 120 suitable to receive the end portions 121 of the SIOP',

springs 116 while the spring is being wound about post 33. The construction of the ring and assembly with the stop-springs is clearly shown by Figure 5.

The toy may be additionally provided with means to make a noise generally simulating the sound ofthe airplane'engine. In the present case, the noise simulates-a jet airplane, this produced in simple fashion as explained above by means of sound springs and an arm, the arm secured to the-side wall of the housing. It will be understood that as ,the housing rotates, a noise is produced by bending of the springs ,by the arm pivotally secured to the housing with consequent release to abruptly strike the next succeeding spring and also by vibration of the spring.

Theoperation of the device is as follows:

The housing 25 is locked in a stationary position by allowing the upper end of the cord 80 to extend intothe cavity 70 in the lower wall of said housing; then the spiral ribbon spring 112 is tightly wound, or coiled, by means of'thekey-rod 35; then it is simply necessary'to grasp knob 85 on the end of the cord and pull the cord to release the housing 25 from locked positioniwiththe opposite end'of the cord,- thereby permitting-the spring' to uncoil, whereby the key-rod is-given rotary move.

ment, the key-rod rotating the housing 25 through the intermediation of the stop springs 116 in engagement with the cup shaped member 20 secured to said housing 25 and the airplanes are revolved around the axis of shaft until the spring 112 resumes its uncoiled or expanded normal condition; the airplanes revolving at a constant speed due to the automatic speed regulator.

This invention is not confined to the use of miniature airplanes, as it is believed that under the spirit and scope of the invention, applicant may rightly use miniature representations of other objects, as birds, animals, etc.

Obviously, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in forms other than that which is illustrated herein, and applicable for uses and purposes other than as detailed, and I therefore consider as my own all such modifications and adaptations and other uses of the form of the toy device herein described as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. An airplane toy comprising a base including a centrol portion, a sidewardly extending portion attached thereto, a stationary shaft vertically mounted upon said center portion of said base, a key-rod rotatably mounted over the end portion of said shaft, a bearing assembled between the top surface of said shaft and the lower surface of said key-rod, a housing rotatively mounted upon the upper portion of said shaft, a spiral ribbon spring driving mechanism mounted within said housing for rotating said housing upon said shaft, a disk member secured to said shaft in a horizontal plane, a plurality of slots provided in the peripheral edge portion of said disk, a flexible metallic sound spring assembled in each of said slots, a pin pivotally attached to sad housing for engaging said sound springs during rotation of the housing producing a noise to simulate the sound of an airplane, a plurality of radially extending arms attached to the side wall of said housing, a dummy miniature aircraft attached to the outer end of each arm, manually operable control means mounted upon said sidewardly extending base portion for arresting and releasing said housing, means to arrest and release said manual control means, a governor mounted within said housing for automatically governing the speed of rotation of said housing, and manually operable means to control the engagement of said pin with said sound springs to effect sound or eliminate sound.

2. A toy airplane apparatus comprising a base including a central portion, a sidewardly extending portion attached thereto, a stationary shaft vertically mounted upon the central portion of said base, a housing rotatably mounted upon the upper end of saidshaft, a plurality of supporting rods extending radially from the side of said housing, a toy airplane mounted upon the outer end of each of said rods, spring means within said housing for rotating said housing and driving said planes about said shaft, hand operated means mounted upon said sidewardly extending portion of said base for arresting and releasing said housing, means to arrest and release said hand control means, a governor within said housing to govern the speed of rotation of said housing, sound springs mounted adjacent said shaft within said housing, a pin pivotally attached to said housing for striking said sound springs, manually operable means to wind up said spring means prior to releasing of said housing, and manually operable means to control engagement of said pin with said springs to effect sound.

3. A device of the character described comprising a base including a central portion, a sidewardly extending portion attached thereto, a stationary shaft vertically mounted upon said central portion of said base, a housing rotatably mounted upon the upper end portion of said shaft, a spiral ribbon spring driving mechanism mounted within said housing for rotating said housing upon said shaft, a key-rod rotatably mounted over the upper end of said shaft, one end of said spiral spring connected at one end with parts connected to said shaft and its other end connected to said key-rod, manual operation of said key-rod effecting compression of said spring, manually operable control means mounted upon said sidewardly extending base portion for arresting and releasing rotation of said spring, means to arrest and release said manual control means, a governor mounted within said housing for automatically governing the speed of rotation of said housing, a disk member secured to said shaft within said housing, sound springs mounted upon said disk member, a pin pivotally attached to said housing for striking said sound springs, and manually operable means to control engagement of said pin with said sound springs to effect sound.

4. In a toy airplane apparatus having a base, a stationary shaft mounted vertically on said base, a housing rotatably mounted on said shaft, a support rod extending radially from said housing, a toy airplane mounted on said support rod, spring means in said housing for rotating said housing and driving said. toy airplane about said shaft, a disk fixedly secured to said shaft within said housing, a plurality of sound springs secured in radially extending, angularly spaced relationship around said disk and a manually operable pin pivotally attached to said housing for striking said sound springs and effecting a sound simulating the operation of an airplane.

References Cited in the file of this: patent UNITED STATES PATENTS (3rd addition to NO. 649,914) 

